Gov. Nathan Deal's Tuesday signing of legislation outlawing all forms of synthetic marijuana in the state of Georgia affected a Barrow County Board of Education meeting also held March 27.

The issue of synthetic pot had been brought up in recent school leader meetings in Barrow County and was discussed at the Tuesday meeting. The proposed recommendation was for the school board to allow policy changes to the student code of conduct related to drugs that were legal prior to Tuesday afternoon. Now that all versions of synthetic marijuana are illegal in the state, the proposed recommendation to the school system's code of conduct is moot.

“These synthetic substances pose an enormous risk to our public safety," said Deal in a statement. “As the usage has dramatically increased, instances of violence, bodily harm and even death have risen with it. I applaud the GBI and the General Assembly for their fast work on this legislation, which addresses a pressing need.”

Senate Bill 370 was named Chase’s Law in memory of Chase Corbitt Burnett, a 16-year-old honor student and soccer player found dead in a hot tub at his parents' Fayette County home after smoking the substance. Burnett’s family joined GBI Director Vernon Keenan, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, House Speaker David Ralston and others at the bill signing.

Synthetic cannabinoids contain marijuana-like chemical compounds combined with different forms of dried vegetation. These products are sold in gas stations throughout the state and are purchased and smoked by individuals in search of a legal high, according to the governor's press release, which also sources the American Association of Poison Control Centers stating there were 6,959 calls nationwide related to adverse effects associated with synthetic cannabinoid compounds in 2011.

"This is nearly 2.4 times the amount of calls in 2010," the press release states. "Doctors have determined that synthetic marijuana can cause psychosis and increase the tendency of violent behavior. In September of last year, a Bulloch County woman was hospitalized after her boyfriend brutally assaulted her while under the influence of synthetic marijuana. Just this month, a 17-year-old in Washington state who was high on synthetic marijuana fatally stabbed a sleeping schoolmate because he felt 'an urge to hurt someone."

Keenan and other law enforcement officials from across the state requested the immediate signing of SB 370 in order to begin the crackdown on the substances.

If it starts having the same effects and outcome as this stuff then they need too. But who am to tell that to someone who obviously could care less what they put in their body. Go smoke another one, you have two more brain cells to kill.

govt is d damn problem...
why do we have spice in d first place????
bcoz mrijuana is still illegal in d ountry
its been 40 yrs since president nixon declare drug war in this country.
so many innocent people r behind bars.
ga is #1 when it comes to most corrupt state.
ga recieve grade f in ehic violtion.

Don't fall for the "its for the safety of the public" baloney.
Its all about government control over the people.
We know what is best for you.
You would die with-out government intervention and intrusion.

Bottom line is; as a human you own your body.
You have a fundamental right to do with it what you choose.

I have no problem with folks being educated about the dangers of this garbage called spice.

But the government picks and chooses which drugs are approved and which are restricted.
Alcohol, tobacco, and pharmas kill more women and children than any spice ever did.
Spice is just the latest scare tactic from big government

Your very correct. It is YOUR body. Go out and put anything you want in it. Have fun. But when you do get high on whatever it is you choose do it in YOUR OWN HOUSE. Don't come out here and place everyone else in harms way by getting behind the wheel and hitting and killing the ones who choose NOT to put illegal substances in their bodies. Thats the issue here. People think that can do whatever they want, whenever they want without any regard for anyone else. This is why the government gets involved. We have to babysit the ones who can't, or won't grow up. The ones who could care less about everyone else.

It seems to me that the only people that are upset here are the ones that smoke this stuff. If you watched from the sidelines and saw the adverse effects that this stuff has you'd be scared outta your whits!

Why is it that mini-minds always accuse others of wrongdoing when the stark reality is that there is a difference of opinion? IOW, not all people who oppose the so-called "war on drugs" are dope fiends.

I agree 100% with Odins Eye. How can the government tell us what we can and cannot do to our bodies? They are OUR bodies. I simply do not care what my neighbor is doing to himself. As long as they are not harming anyone else, why should others have a say?
I also agree that the goverment picks and chooses what to legalize. Why in the world are cigarettes legal???? To me, they are worse than ANY drug. Alcohol kills, too. Why is that legal?
If pot, which is a plant made by God, was legal then we most likely wouldn't even be dealing with this "spice" issue.
And no, I am not a druggie nor am I dumb enough to try this man-made crap...

I say as long as you do NOT leave YOUR property while you are under the influence, and cause No Reason for anyone to call the Law for any other reason (noise, damage, etc) *AND* 2. You agree to take full responsibilty for anything that happens to you from using whatever substance (personally, financailly) including You pay for EMS if they ever needed to be called, AND you are covered by your own private insurance or self pay for any medical issue that results, IN OTHER WORDS: You dont bother anyone else and WE (the rest of us) never have to pay a dime for any decision you make in any way, THEN I say let you smoke or take anything you want.

In that thinking, there should not be alcohol served in bars or restaurants. People should have to stay on their property to imbibe - and let's not even try to estimate how many times law enforcement had to be called due to alcohol. How about the lung cancer and the deaths that cigarettes cause? I have had cancer twice directly related to cigarette smoke and yet I STILL have to walk through some one's smoke cloud while they are smoking their cigarettes outside a building. IN OTHER WORDS: I am bothered all of the time by other people's liberties. How should this be any different??

Odins Eye,
Do you stay home all the time?
If not, let me know the next time you are out so can I spit my tobacco juice on you. Same as someone exhaling their smoke for me to breath.
I'm sure you won't mind, because you promote being tolerant of others.
I don't chew,but I'm sure I could get up a luggy.

I am sure they would outlaw the glass pipes if they could and they should. They are not for tobacco use and everyone knows it. Just like Spice states " Not for Human Consumption" but humans are the only ones consuming it and they don't burn it like incense.
This product is man made - synthetic marijuana - more lethal than marijuana!
Yes, alcohol and tobacco products kill.
Does that mean we need to legalize other products may or may not kill??
Stores were selling these products to pre-teens and teens under the age of 18. Even those over 18 were at risk.
It was big business and they did not care if these kids got addicted or died!
Synthetic marijuana is lethal. One batch may be more lethal than the next.
Do your research. Government has to protect.

I had forgot about that place. Thanks for the memories. I bought my first bong and hash pipe from Jerry Maynard. I just turned 18 and he actually checked my ID. Does anyone remember the name of the place?

Are you people serious? Jerry Maynard actually owned a drug paraphernalia shop in Winder? I use to be a real estate agent for Jerry. Things are starting to come together now. LOL

#10
When will it be enough ?? no common sense...
on
04/02/12 at 12:33 AM
[Reply]

We Cannot LEGISLATE EVERY LITTLE THING, I saw sometimes you just go with Natural Selection, some people just mess up and die from it. We try to write a bill or change a law for every little thing, sometimes we just need decient parenting...
I wore a seatbelt BEFORE there was a law for the Govt to tell me to do what I already was doing, I believe in seat belts but strongly oppose a law telling me to do so, I can CHOOSE to put my life at risk and choose to be safe, I dont need EXTRA Parents In Washington or Downtown Atlanta now.

Nothing like a new illegal substance to jack up the budgets for the war on drug armies.

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